1. Sacred Texts
of
India
Group #2, Pd. 5
Mike G.
Jimmy B.
Heather P.
Katarina M.
Brittany H.
http://www.wayfaring.info/wp-
content/uploads/2007/04/800px-
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_shree_swaminarayan_hindu_mandir_-
_power_plant.jpg

2. The Vedas
• Most sacred of all literature.
• Revealed to humans directly by gods.
• Preserved orally for centuries and written
down 500 years ago.
• Explain the meaning of rituals, how to
perform them, and praise the gods.
• Sanskrit for “wisdom”.

3. The Upanishads
• Serves as commentaries on or for
philosophical extensions of the hymns.
• Sanskrit for “sit at the feet of”.
• Name given to more than 100 texts that make
up the last part of the Vedas.
• Seen as records of conversations and
discussions about most basic questions of
existence.

4. Mahabharata
• One of two great epics
in Indian literature.
• Epic focuses on dharma
(duties and obligations),
karma (actions effect
next life), and
reincarnation (rebirth
after death).
http://www.indolink.com/Kidz/Stories/
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5. Bhagavad Gita
• Sanskrit meaning, “the song of the
Lord”.
• Poem that makes up a small part of
Mahabharata.
• Author of Bhagavad Gita is unknown.
• Contains eighteen chapters.
• Contains conversations between warrior,
Arjuna and Krishna (God).

6. Panchatantra
• Collection of oral
traditions that have
been written down.
• Most famous of the
two epics.
• Appeared in 200
versions and in many
different languages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Se
WLrZ7Znk